Not only are the Mets getting mostly negative results from their trade deadline pickups, they may have inadvertently aided a close playoff pursuer.
In the trade with the Giants — which brought established, excellent set-up man Tyler Rogers for two prospects and reliever José Butto — San Francisco is receiving boosts from Butto and especially super-energetic outfield prospect Drew Gilbert.
The Giants mostly sold at the deadline, but they (and the Reds) cut the deficit vs. the fading Mets to two games in a wild-card race no one saw coming. The Giants have a decidedly Mets flavor — with also Wilmer Flores, Joey Lucchesi, Dominic Smith and even starting pitcher Carson Seymour, who came in the ill-conceived Darin Ruf trade.
Gilbert’s stats aren’t overwhelming in his first MLB foray (.231, three homers), and many consider him a fourth outfielder. Yet, he’s single-handedly brought an infectious enthusiasm with what some describe as lovable nuttiness to a previously stagnant, even struggling San Franscisco club. (Check out the videos of him banging on the dugout railing or being fake-choked by teammate Matt Chapman.)
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
